These last few days....

So a lot has been going on lately....

Last weekend I went back to New Orleans to surprise my friends for their 25th birthday!! We had an amazing weekend together. We went out to Bourbon Street, of course. The best place to go to celebrate birthdays in New Orleans :) Pat O's [see picture on left of birthday girl holding the famous Hurricane] was our first stop then a random club where we danced all night. When we decided we had enough it was POURING rain. We tried to run back to the hotel we were staying at but got lost... we were slightly... uh... disoriented... and finally hailed a cab to take us the 3 blocks away the hotel apparently was... oh well... Got back safe, sound and soaking wet.

I hadn't been back to New Orleans since last June for a friend's wedding... man, I miss New Orleans. Such a wonderful city. Full of life and love and hope and comfort. The people, the food, the music. No matter where I live in this crazy world it will always be home. Saturday and Sunday there were festivals going on [Ferret Street Fest and Latin Fest] so my friends and I happily went and enjoyed awesome music -- Kermit Ruffins, the Sleeping Giant and other great local groups -- and gor-ge-ous 75 degree weather. AND Diabetes behaved itself rather well... which was made the weekend even more lovely. It's so hard to say goodbye to those you love......

I returned back to Maryland on Monday night with a heavy heart for multiple reasons. Leaving my best friends I've known since middle school [and before...] and my kitty, Bisty, died while I was away. Bitsy was the best, most loving kitty. She was 19 years old and had a very happy life and lived with me every state I moved to. But she was getting very sick in the days leading up to my departure to New Orleans. It was so hard to leave her because I knew in my heart it was the end. She could no longer hang on. I miss her so much. I was waiting last night for her to jump on my bed and purr next to my ear or sleep curled up at my feet. She was part of my life for 19 years and getting used to having her not here is very hard. I miss her. I miss petting her. I miss her comforting me when I'm sad... and now... she's not here for me to cuddle up with. It would be selfish of me to have her hang on longer than she wanted. She faithfully listened to my stories for 19 years. She would yell at me when I sang or had the music too loud. She would rub my leg when I was sad. She loved me unconditionally for 19 years, as I still do. 19 years is a long time especially since I only have 24. It was her time. But still... I miss her. My heart is heavy and empty at the same time. I miss her.

RIP Bitsy. I love you.